214 
HABITS OP THE TIGER. 
“Aunt, do you think that story is true 
about the lady unfurling the umbrella in 
the tiger’s face ?” asked Annie. 
“What is it?” asked Daisy. “I never 
heard it.” 
“ The story is that a party of ladie§ and 
gentlemen were out upon a picnic-excur¬ 
sion, or some such thing, when they saw 
a tiger all ready to spring upon them. One 
of the ladies seized an umbrella and opened 
it in the face of the animal, which fled in 
alarm and gave them a chance to escape.” 
“It showed a great deal of presence of 
mind, if she really did it,” observed Dieh¬ 
ard. 
“ Undoubtedly. But I do not think it 
a very probable story. The tiger very 
seldom shows himself before he makes his 
leap; and, after he had sprung, I can hardly 
suppose he would be likely, or, indeed, 
able, to turn aside for an umbrella.” 
“But if the tiger was only crouching 
ready for a spring,” suggested Bichard. 
“In that case, it is possible that the 
animal may have been confounded by the 
suddenness and the very audacity of the 
action.” 
